Scientists Link Marijuana-Use to Schizophrenia

1 CommentMarijuana

It isn’t just “reefer madness.” Multiple scientific studies and reviews conducted over the past decade–particularly in the past couple of years–are showing a clear connection between marijuana-use during adolescence and the development of schizophrenia in adulthood.

A 2002 study published in the British Medical Journal followed up research showing a connection between adolescent cannabis-use and schizophrenia. The study examined whether marijuana causes schizophrenia in adulthood or people who choose to use marijuana as adolescents are already predisposed toward developing schizophrenia later in life. The study concluded, “cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of experiencing schizophrenia symptoms, even after psychotic symptoms preceding the onset of cannabis use are controlled for, indicating that cannabis use is not secondary to a pre-existing psychosis….early cannabis use (by age 15) confers greater risk for schizophrenia outcomes than later cannabis use (by age 18).”1

The study conceded researchers needed to examine the topic more thoroughly, and in the 11 years since that is exactly what scientists have done.

In 2010, research published in the British Journal of Pharmacology stated, (more…)

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What Churches Who Charter Boy Scout Troops Need to Know

Homosexuality, Religious Freedom, ,

There are some potential legal problems churches need to know they could now face if chartering a Boy Scout troop.

Earlier this year the Boy Scouts of America changed their membership policy, choosing to allow openly gay Boy Scouts to participate in scouting. According to a memo circulated by the Alliance Defending Freedom, churches who charter Boy Scout troops could now be at serious risk due to the BSA’s decision.

According to ADF, a church chartering a Boy Scout troop could:

  • See its teaching on sexual morality curtailed. According to ADF, “Under threat of litigation, a church that chooses to maintain ties with BSA could face forfeiting the ability to teach biblical principles of sexual morality to its Scouts and to require them to adhere to those principles.”
  • Find itself unable to speak out against homosexuality in other contexts. According to ADF, “Affirming the ‘good conduct’ and ‘moral straightness’ of youth of any sexual orientation or preference—which is the effect of a church chartering a BSA troop—could limit a church’s ability to make a convincing showing [in court] that its beliefs opposing homosexuality should be constitutionally protected because of the internal inconsistency created by the charter.” This has the potential affect everything from hiring staff to church policies on facility-use.

What Does ADF Recommend?

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Lottery Officials ‘Generally Satisfied’ as Revenue, Scholarships Drop

Arkansas Lottery

According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, lottery ticket sales and scholarship money fell during the month of August, compared to last year.

Ticket sales for August, 2013, were roughly half-a-million dollars less than August, 2012. More significantly, scholarship revenue–the Arkansas Lottery’s purpose–fell by $791,000.

Despite this news, the Director of the Arkansas Lottery told the Lottery Commission on Monday, “We are generally satisfied with the position we are in at this point.”

The Arkansas Lottery Commission also decided Monday to seek input from the legislative oversight committee on raising the mileage reimbursement it pays lottery employees–an added cost of about $67,000 extra each year.

One has to wonder how the Lottery can be “satisfied” with lagging sales and falling scholarship revenue, and why anyone would think tacking on additional expenses in the midst of all that is a good idea. If the Lottery has an extra $67,000 lying around, wouldn’t that money be better spent on scholarships? That is, after all, the reason the Arkansas Lottery exists in the first place.

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